Comments on: Tale of Two Schools and Some Questions http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Laurie Glass http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-46827 Laurie Glass Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:30:49 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-46827 I'm new to this blog and love the conversations. I am taking an educational technology course and this site was recommended and I'm glad. My experience had been that teachers drive the change in our district and it's hoped that the administrators get out of the way and support the changes. Thankfully that is happening in my district. I am hopeful that it continues beyond the purchasing of technology and extends to providing training and opportunity as well. Laurie I’m new to this blog and love the conversations. I am taking an educational technology course and this site was recommended and I’m glad. My experience had been that teachers drive the change in our district and it’s hoped that the administrators get out of the way and support the changes. Thankfully that is happening in my district. I am hopeful that it continues beyond the purchasing of technology and extends to providing training and opportunity as well.

Laurie

]]> By: Melissa Tredenick http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44545 Melissa Tredenick Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:06:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44545 Mike- It's great to hear that you can relate, and I'm sure there's others who can as well. You're right - we are supporting the early adopters. So why not reward them? As techies we do have some pull right? Next time we want to try something new out, upgrade equipment, etc - let's offer it to one of the people who are making the effort! They feel rewarded, and maybe it will encourage the others to hop on board as well. We actually make our faculty tech training mandatory. But whether you force them to come or not, it is of course what they do with it once they leave. If a teacher is refusing to adopt to this technology wave in the classroom, I don't think they're going to be able to stay afloat much longer. I recently gave a presentation to encourage our teachers to try using Wikis/blogs in their lessons - with the reasoning that this is the world we live in, and this is especially the world our students live in (social networking, itunes, wikipedia, etc). I had a teacher come up to me after and tell me that he disagrees - which I found incredibly frustrating because there is nothing to agree or disagree with! This is where it's heading...you're either on board...or you're out (as far as I'm concerned!) Mike-

It’s great to hear that you can relate, and I’m sure there’s others who can as well. You’re right – we are supporting the early adopters. So why not reward them? As techies we do have some pull right? Next time we want to try something new out, upgrade equipment, etc – let’s offer it to one of the people who are making the effort! They feel rewarded, and maybe it will encourage the others to hop on board as well.

We actually make our faculty tech training mandatory. But whether you force them to come or not, it is of course what they do with it once they leave.

If a teacher is refusing to adopt to this technology wave in the classroom, I don’t think they’re going to be able to stay afloat much longer. I recently gave a presentation to encourage our teachers to try using Wikis/blogs in their lessons – with the reasoning that this is the world we live in, and this is especially the world our students live in (social networking, itunes, wikipedia, etc). I had a teacher come up to me after and tell me that he disagrees – which I found incredibly frustrating because there is nothing to agree or disagree with! This is where it’s heading…you’re either on board…or you’re out (as far as I’m concerned!)

]]> By: Mike Maloy http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44543 Mike Maloy Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:55:30 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44543 Melissa, I truly appreciate your comments. I'm the Teacher Center director in my district. My job is to make relevant meaningful professional development available. I know I'm doing that with technology offerings, which are after school and optional. The problem is its the same faces at most of the classes. I'm not worried about the people who are attending the workshops. I'm worried about the people who aren't. My only answer (to date) is to model great teaching with technology and hope they somehow get caught in the wave. We're supporting the heck out of the early adopters. What about the laggards? Melissa,
I truly appreciate your comments. I’m the Teacher Center director in my district. My job is to make relevant meaningful professional development available. I know I’m doing that with technology offerings, which are after school and optional. The problem is its the same faces at most of the classes. I’m not worried about the people who are attending the workshops. I’m worried about the people who aren’t.
My only answer (to date) is to model great teaching with technology and hope they somehow get caught in the wave. We’re supporting the heck out of the early adopters. What about the laggards?

]]> By: Melissa Tredenick http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44535 Melissa Tredenick Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:25:10 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44535 I am pleased to say that I am the leader at my school. I came in three years ago, saw we had nothing - and set out on a mission for a three year initiative to integrate technology into the classroom. I came up with a proposal, checked out what some other schools were doing, put together a tech committee of teachers and admins at my school...presented the proposal to the board...and boom - we're in business. So it's complete. The three years is up and we are booming with technology. Faculty laptops...SMARTBoards & projectors in every classroom...Blackboard for student access....etc. I didn't realize how ahead of the curve we are, but am quite pleased with it. I make a huge effort to offer training for faculty, and they have responded very well to the in house mini conferences we have once a semester. I am writing this not to brag, but to throw the other side of the coin at you. We are a school that has leadership, has all the technology in place, and use it well. So as teachers we hear what you struggle with, as a techie here's what I struggle with - what about faculty who don't want training and who don't want this technology - are they out? I am pleased to say that I am the leader at my school. I came in three years ago, saw we had nothing – and set out on a mission for a three year initiative to integrate technology into the classroom. I came up with a proposal, checked out what some other schools were doing, put together a tech committee of teachers and admins at my school…presented the proposal to the board…and boom – we’re in business.

So it’s complete. The three years is up and we are booming with technology. Faculty laptops…SMARTBoards & projectors in every classroom…Blackboard for student access….etc. I didn’t realize how ahead of the curve we are, but am quite pleased with it.

I make a huge effort to offer training for faculty, and they have responded very well to the in house mini conferences we have once a semester.

I am writing this not to brag, but to throw the other side of the coin at you. We are a school that has leadership, has all the technology in place, and use it well. So as teachers we hear what you struggle with, as a techie here’s what I struggle with – what about faculty who don’t want training and who don’t want this technology – are they out?

]]> By: Jason http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44440 Jason Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:49:25 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44440 You are exactly right Will...leadership is the key. And, unfortunately, it cannot come from teachers in most places. I am a leader teacher in my building and while it is acknowledged that what I am trying to do is important and worthy (and my integration ranges from sort-of-integration to much more hard core, depending on the class), I really get no support in terms of professional development, equipment or scheduling... You are exactly right Will…leadership is the key. And, unfortunately, it cannot come from teachers in most places. I am a leader teacher in my building and while it is acknowledged that what I am trying to do is important and worthy (and my integration ranges from sort-of-integration to much more hard core, depending on the class), I really get no support in terms of professional development, equipment or scheduling…

]]> By: Mike Maloy http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44383 Mike Maloy Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:34:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44383 I'm sure I don't have any answers for the community at large, but I've been thinking about these questions for my district. Here are my thoughts: http://mmaloy.wordpress.com/ I agree with Will that it will take leadership. We have leaders who understand and actively endorse the use of technology. But I think real system wide change will come when teacher leaders emerge and inspire their colleagues. I’m sure I don’t have any answers for the community at large, but I’ve been thinking about these questions for my district. Here are my thoughts:
http://mmaloy.wordpress.com/

I agree with Will that it will take leadership. We have leaders who understand and actively endorse the use of technology. But I think real system wide change will come when teacher leaders emerge and inspire their colleagues.

]]> By: What is our first step? « Focus http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44382 What is our first step? « Focus Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:23:49 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44382 [...] Will Richardson has some written some posts asking how other schools begin to do the work that SLA is doing?  What steps need to be taken [...] [...] Will Richardson has some written some posts asking how other schools begin to do the work that SLA is doing?  What steps need to be taken [...]

]]> By: Steven Barber http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44365 Steven Barber Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:56:46 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44365 Amen to that! I also work in a district where the technology is ubiquitous, yet "due to a lack of funds" the only "Professional Development" that occurs is when you report as a teacher day#1 of school only to find new icons on your desktop! Would we start "Driver Ed" by guiding "New Drivers" to a parking lot full of already running vehicles? Without any "roadmap" or guidance as to the true benefits, (or dangers) of having the "opportunity" for that "driver" to go anywhere they need to go? If only they KNEW HOW TO DO THAT! No, we hand the new "drivers" the keys & then tell them to meet AYP they have to be "efficient" with their "gas mileage" & as teachers we are told "not to crash" any of the "New Automobiles"! Who are we kidding! We end up driving in circles, and even those of us who are determined to "drive" the great new cars really don't know where we are going, or how to get there! Yikes! Amen to that! I also work in a district where the technology is ubiquitous, yet “due to a lack of funds” the only “Professional Development” that occurs is when you report as a teacher day#1 of school only to find new icons on your desktop!

Would we start “Driver Ed” by guiding “New Drivers” to a parking lot full of already running vehicles? Without any “roadmap” or guidance as to the true benefits, (or dangers) of having the “opportunity” for that “driver” to go anywhere they need to go? If only they KNEW HOW TO DO THAT!

No, we hand the new “drivers” the keys & then tell them
to meet AYP they have to be “efficient” with their
“gas mileage” & as teachers we are told “not to crash” any of the “New Automobiles”! Who are we kidding! We end up driving in circles, and even those of us who are determined to “drive” the great new cars really don’t know where we are going, or how to get there! Yikes!

]]> By: Laura Deisley http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44306 Laura Deisley Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:24:49 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44306 Good point...but do you really think change is going to happen within the system we have? There are incredible teachers and some incredible administrators out there. But, to have any kind of consistency in a system that's been stuck for so long? The major shift needed "to scale" as you note is going to require a lot of leadership that is backed by parents, faculty, students (?) and a shared strategic vision. I just wonder if the leaders are going to come from outside...in order to keep the wonderful folks on the "inside" from burning out (as so often happens). Good point…but do you really think change is going to happen within the system we have? There are incredible teachers and some incredible administrators out there. But, to have any kind of consistency in a system that’s been stuck for so long? The major shift needed “to scale” as you note is going to require a lot of leadership that is backed by parents, faculty, students (?) and a shared strategic vision. I just wonder if the leaders are going to come from outside…in order to keep the wonderful folks on the “inside” from burning out (as so often happens).

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44304 Will Richardson Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:18:28 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44304 Laura: Right...but...someone in leadership saw fit to bring you on board. Many would consider that a threat. Laura: Right…but…someone in leadership saw fit to bring you on board. Many would consider that a threat.

]]> By: Laura Deisley http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44301 Laura Deisley Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:02:31 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44301 Will, Can't do it without leadership of some kind... Hmmm...I wonder...since leadership isn't consistent "across the system" (let alone across the street from one school to the other) perhaps leadership and change will have to come "from the outside." We're testing that model in some respects with my consulting/contracting role with this K-12 independent. Moving between the reporting lines and working with the different constituents within the school I seem to be finding levers that by being "in the system" I couldn't have. Too early to tell what the result will be. Just thinking that more often than not significant change requires someone/something from the outside to serve as a catalyst. Could the collective "we" (those who get it and want to see the change) be that catalyst on a bigger scale. How do we collectively do more? Will,

Can’t do it without leadership of some kind…

Hmmm…I wonder…since leadership isn’t consistent “across the system” (let alone across the street from one school to the other) perhaps leadership and change will have to come “from the outside.” We’re testing that model in some respects with my consulting/contracting role with this K-12 independent. Moving between the reporting lines and working with the different constituents within the school I seem to be finding levers that by being “in the system” I couldn’t have. Too early to tell what the result will be. Just thinking that more often than not significant change requires someone/something from the outside to serve as a catalyst.

Could the collective “we” (those who get it and want to see the change) be that catalyst on a bigger scale. How do we collectively do more?

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44298 Will Richardson Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:48:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44298 Laura: You are right; it takes more than leadership. But I wonder if it can be done without it. MaryAnn: It's really striking. And I know in my home state we are really in a crunch to find upper level adiminstrative candidates that have the vision and the consensus building ability to really bring about the changes that are needed. Laura: You are right; it takes more than leadership. But I wonder if it can be done without it.

MaryAnn: It’s really striking. And I know in my home state we are really in a crunch to find upper level adiminstrative candidates that have the vision and the consensus building ability to really bring about the changes that are needed.

]]> By: Blogging on the Bay | Leadership is the Key http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44291 Blogging on the Bay | Leadership is the Key Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:34:08 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44291 [...] February 07, 2008 By: admin Category: 21st Century, learning “…key ingredient is leadership, that nothing happens without someone who can inspire serious conversations about what can be, regardless of the roadblocks.” by Will Richardson from his blog Tales of Two Schools and Some Questions. [...] [...] February 07, 2008 By: admin Category: 21st Century, learning “…key ingredient is leadership, that nothing happens without someone who can inspire serious conversations about what can be, regardless of the roadblocks.” by Will Richardson from his blog Tales of Two Schools and Some Questions. [...]

]]> By: MaryAnn Sansonetti http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44270 MaryAnn Sansonetti Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:08:09 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44270 THANK YOU for taking the time to say this. I completely agree the inconsistency is leadership. In my own district I see the same things from school to school. If the leaders do not expect classrooms to transform learning with technology then it won't. Thank you for speaking what is on my mind. THANK YOU for taking the time to say this. I completely agree the inconsistency is leadership. In my own district I see the same things from school to school. If the leaders do not expect classrooms to transform learning with technology then it won’t.

Thank you for speaking what is on my mind.

]]> By: Laura Deisley http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-44244 Laura Deisley Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:02:47 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/tale-of-two-schools-and-some-questions/#comment-44244 Will, As you know I've spent some time in public and private schools, and I also have the perspective--still fresh in my mind and heart--of SLA. I agree with you that leadership 'at the top' is really important; yet, what makes the telling difference at SLA is that it doesn't stop there. I don't in any way want to take away from Chris's role, and what I'm going to say is in deep respect because he's guided this: There is a culture in that place that is owned and nurtured by all the stakeholders, notably the faculty and students. And that shared vision, that SHARED STORY, makes all the difference. Because it is shared it is owned and therefore is sustainable. (Mythic factor here Christian Long?) There is an architecture here that needs to be defined--a strawman that we can add flesh to. I like your idea of using a wiki and other collaborative tools to begin working on it. Your questions at SLA about scalability are important ones...I am looking at two teenagers of my own who have been caught in this changing world, in a "reasonably well functioning institution" but who are missing out on what really "could be". That's what I'm after. Will,

As you know I’ve spent some time in public and private schools, and I also have the perspective–still fresh in my mind and heart–of SLA. I agree with you that leadership ‘at the top’ is really important; yet, what makes the telling difference at SLA is that it doesn’t stop there. I don’t in any way want to take away from Chris’s role, and what I’m going to say is in deep respect because he’s guided this: There is a culture in that place that is owned and nurtured by all the stakeholders, notably the faculty and students. And that shared vision, that SHARED STORY, makes all the difference. Because it is shared it is owned and therefore is sustainable. (Mythic factor here Christian Long?)

There is an architecture here that needs to be defined–a strawman that we can add flesh to. I like your idea of using a wiki and other collaborative tools to begin working on it. Your questions at SLA about scalability are important ones…I am looking at two teenagers of my own who have been caught in this changing world, in a “reasonably well functioning institution” but who are missing out on what really “could be”. That’s what I’m after.

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